You're standing there, staring at a text. Maybe it’s a hilarious screenshot-worthy rant from your sister, or perhaps it's a critical work instruction from a boss who refuses to use Slack. You need that message somewhere else. You need to know how to forward text messages without looking like a tech-illiterate dinosaur.
It sounds simple. It should be simple. Yet, because Apple and Google are constantly fighting for dominance in your pocket, the "Share" button isn't always where you think it is. Honestly, the process changes slightly every time there’s a major iOS update or a new version of Samsung’s One UI.
Let's get into the weeds of how this actually works across different devices.
The iPhone Method: More Than Just a Long Press
Apple loves to hide things behind "long presses" and "sub-menus." If you’re using an iPhone, forwarding a text isn't a one-tap affair.
First, open the Messages app. Find the conversation. Now, don't just tap the message—you have to press and hold your finger on the specific bubble you want to move. A menu will pop up with reactions (the heart, the thumbs up) and a few options like "Reply" or "Copy." You want to tap More... at the bottom.
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This is where it gets interesting. Once you hit "More," little empty circles appear next to every message in the thread. You can select just one, or you can go on a clicking spree and select ten. Look at the bottom right corner of your screen. See that curved arrow? That’s your golden ticket. Tap that arrow, and a new message draft opens up with all that text pre-loaded. Just type in the recipient’s name and hit send.
The beauty here is that it doesn't send as a screenshot. It’s actual, editable text.
Wait. There’s a catch. If you’re forwarding a photo or a video, this process works the same way, but the file size might get compressed depending on whether the recipient has iMessage or is stuck on RCS/SMS. If you see a green bubble instead of a blue one, your high-res video might end up looking like it was filmed with a potato.
Why Auto-Forwarding is a Different Beast
Some people don't want to do this manually. They want their texts to show up on their iPad or Mac automatically. This isn't technically "forwarding" in the traditional sense; it’s syncing.
Go to Settings, then Messages, and look for Text Message Forwarding. If you have other Apple devices signed into your iCloud account, they’ll show up here. Toggle them on. Now, when your mom texts your iPhone asking how to "fix the Google," that message pops up on your MacBook too. It’s a lifesaver for productivity, but a nightmare if you share an iPad with a nosey kid.
Android and the RCS Evolution
Android is a bit of a wild west because every manufacturer—Samsung, Pixel, Motorola—likes to skin the interface differently. However, most modern Android phones use Google Messages as the default.
On a Google Pixel, how to forward text messages is pretty intuitive. Open the chat. Long-press the message. Look at the top right of the screen. You’ll see three vertical dots (the "kinda-universal" symbol for more stuff is here). Tap that and select Forward.
A list of your recent contacts will slide up. You can pick one or search for a new person.
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Samsung users, you're in a slightly different boat if you use the native Samsung Messages app. The logic is the same—long press is your best friend—but the menu usually appears as a floating list right next to the message bubble rather than at the top of the screen.
The RCS Factor
Google has been pushing Rich Communication Services (RCS) hard. If you and the person you’re forwarding to both have RCS enabled (it’s basically iMessage for Android), you can forward high-quality media, see typing indicators, and get read receipts. If you're forwarding to an iPhone user, it’ll likely revert to SMS/MMS.
Is it annoying? Yes. Is it changing? Slowly. With Apple finally adopting RCS support in 2024/2025, the "green bubble" tax is finally starting to lower, making forwarded media look way better than it used to.
Moving Messages to Email or Other Apps
Sometimes a text shouldn't stay a text. Maybe you’re documenting harassment, or perhaps you’re saving a sweet note from a grandparent.
You can forward a text message to an email address just as easily as to a phone number. In the "To:" field where you’d normally put a contact name, just type in a full email address. Your carrier handles the translation. The message arrives in the recipient’s inbox, usually appearing as being from an address like 1234567890@vtext.com (for Verizon) or txt.att.net (for AT&T).
For those using WhatsApp or Signal, the process is a "Copy and Paste" job.
- Long press the text.
- Select Copy.
- Switch apps.
- Paste.
It’s clunky. It’s manual. But it’s the only way to move data between encrypted platforms that don't talk to each other.
Professional and Legal Nuances
We have to talk about the "Why."
If you're forwarding messages for work, be careful. Many companies have strict policies about "shadow IT"—basically using your personal text app for business secrets. If you forward a proprietary PDF sent via text to your personal Gmail, you might be breaking a dozen security protocols.
Then there’s the legal side. In many jurisdictions, forwarded texts can be used as evidence, but their "chain of custody" is messy. If you need to preserve a message for a legal reason, a forwarded text is often less reliable than a screenshot that shows the sender's info, the timestamp, and the surrounding context.
Troubleshooting the "Failed to Send" Error
Nothing is more frustrating than hitting that forward arrow and seeing a red exclamation mark.
Usually, this happens for one of three reasons:
- File size: You’re trying to forward a 4K video over a carrier that caps MMS at 1MB.
- Short Codes: Some automated texts (like 2FA codes or bank alerts) are "protected" and won't let you forward them through standard means.
- Roaming: If you're traveling, your data roaming might allow for browsing but block the specific "gateway" used for MMS forwarding.
If you’re stuck, try the "Copy/Paste" method. It bypasses the carrier’s forwarding logic and just treats the text as a brand-new message. It works 99% of the time when the "Forward" button fails.
Better Ways to Manage Your History
If you find yourself forwarding messages constantly just to keep a record, you’re doing too much work.
Consider using cloud backups. Google One for Android and iCloud for iPhone both back up your entire message history. If you get a new phone, you don't need to forward anything. You just sign in, wait for the progress bar to finish, and your entire life's history of "Hey, what's for dinner?" appears on the new device.
For those in business, tools like TextMagic or SlickText allow for professional-grade message management. These platforms let you forward incoming texts to entire teams or straight into a CRM like Salesforce.
What to do next
Start by checking your settings. If you’re an iPhone user, ensure your Text Message Forwarding is toggled on for your Mac—it makes life significantly easier. For Android users, make sure RCS Chats are enabled in your Google Messages settings to ensure that when you do forward media, it doesn't look like a pixelated mess from 2005.
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Next time you need to move a message, remember: Long press, select "More" or "Forward," and verify the recipient. It takes five seconds once you stop looking for a "Forward" button that isn't there until you ask for it.
If you're dealing with a massive amount of data, stop forwarding and start exporting. Both Android (via Google Takeout) and iOS (via specialized desktop apps like iMazing) allow you to export entire threads as PDFs. This is infinitely more efficient than manually forwarding 500 individual messages to your email.
Keep your apps updated. Carriers and OS developers tweak these menus constantly. What works today might be a slightly different tap-sequence in six months, but the core logic of the "long press" remains the universal key to managing your texts.